At 4:30AM Saturday 7/1 I was at the BLACK-THROATED SPARROW site, .8 miles
(actually .7 where I was) south of the state park on Huntzinger Rd, south of
Vantage. There I ran into Ruth and Patrick Sullivan. As he stated in his
message of 7/2, we did not see the bird. We put forth a pretty good effort.

We then left together for Wilson Creek to see TRI-COLORED BLACKBIRDS and
other birds. Patrick covered that portion of the trip very well in his
message dated 7/2.

Later in the day of 7/1 I headed south to the Blue Mountains in search of
the GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE. Along the way I observed a singing GRASSHOPPER
SPARROW on hwy 261 near the road that leads to Palouse Falls in Franklin
County. Early on the morning of 7/2 I tried for 3 hours unsuccessfully for
the the GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE at the Wenatchee Guard Station. However, there
were a lot of good birds in the Blues, not the least of which was a nest of
THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS. The nest is in Big Springs campground. It's
directly in front of the shelter in the campground.

Then I left for Biscuit Ridge, south of Dixie which is on hwy 12 NE of Walla
Walla. Ken Knittle's directions in his Tweeters message dated 5/16/00 were
perfect. I observed 4-6 singing adult GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES.

After camping on Biscuit Ridge I left the next morning (7/3) for Wenas
Creek. 5 hours failed to turn up the WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER. I searched
in the campground as well as up Hog Ranch Road, where there were many PYGMY
NUTHATCHES and RED CROSSBILLS. I've never seen so many of either and had
such good close looks. The woods was full of COMMON NIGHTHAWKS. I flushed
2 from nests. One depression had 2 eggs. I did not check the other. On
one occasion the NIGHTHAWK put on an incredible distraction display. It
perched on the top of a stump, about 4 feet off the ground and perhaps 30
feet from me. The wings were spread downward, the mouth agape and the bird
made a soft rattling noise.

In the evening I returned to Vantage and camped. The next morning, 7/4, I
decided to try again for the BLACK-THROATED SPARROW. At about 6AM I was .7
miles south of the state park on Huntzinger Road. Since I had seen the bird
the previous week end my plan was to put in a minimal effort. After
listening in one spot for about 10 minutes, I gave up. Then I heard the
bird. I followed it up the rocky slope for about half an hour, hearing it
sing all the time, but never seeing it. When it (and me, too) reached the
top, it perched on top on a sage bush and sang for 15 seconds. Then it
disappeard over the top and was gone.

Then I crossed the bridge to the opposite cliffs where I heard a singing
CANYON WREN and watched as the WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS flew so high as to be
nearly out of sight. Back across the bridge I headed north of Vantage. I
turned right on Recreation Drive, hoping to catch a SAGE SPARROW or SAGE
THRASHER. What I found surprised me. As I walked the road .5 miles from
the Vantage highway I heard a singing BLACK-THROATED SPARROW! I had just
heard the other bird; the song was fresh in the mind. After minimal
searching, there it was! For 45 minutes I watched and listened as the bird
flew back and forth across the road. At one point it was 50 feet away
perched at the edge of the road in full sight in my scope. When the bird
disappeared, it was .3 miles from the Vantage Highway.

Took off for the Quincy STP where there was a small flock of peeps. I saw 2
well enough to ID them as LEAST SANDPIPERS. There was also a jouvenile
WILSON'S PHALAROPE. There were BLACK-NECKED STILTS with many small chicks,
AMERICAN AVOCETS and a variety of ducks, as Patrick mentioned.

Back to Vantage and on to the Quilomene Wildlife Area. There I saw 10-12
BREWER'S SPARROWS, 3 SAGE SPARROWS and one SAGE THRASHER.

Other birds, possibly of note:
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT-Wooten Wildlife area, m686Garfield County
BANK SWALLOWS- Several colonies on Hwy 12, The Tri Cities to Yakima
WILLIAM'S SAPSUCKER-3 in the Blue Mountains

133 species for the trip.